In India, Kerry To Address Concerns Over Afghanistan

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is due to hold talks on June 24 in New Delhi with Prime Minister Manmoham Singh and other senior Indian officials.

Kerry is expected to address Indian concerns over the scheduled withdrawal of most foreign combat troops from neighboring Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and urge New Delhi to play a greater role in the region.

Kerry is in India just days after Washington announced talks between U.S. officials and Taliban representatives would begin soon.

In a speech after he arrived on June 23 for the three-day visit, Kerry said that the United States was "very realistic" about the difficulties in Afghanistan and acknowledged that a final settlement "may be long in coming."

He said Afghanistan cannot again become a safe haven for international terrorism.